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About this project

Hi! I'm Sutu. I'm an interactive comic artist and the creator of the Webby Award winning Nawlz and the FWA winning NEOMAD. Today I'm creating a new story with my own new technology. It's called MODERN POLAXIS and it's an Augmented Reality comic book.

The story is about a paranoid time traveller known as Modern Polaxis. The book will be presented as Polaxis's private journal. Polaxis writes about his day to day life, but all his secret information, his paranoid delusions and conspiracy theories, he hides away in the Augmented Reality layer.

Polaxis 'theorising'

Only those (like you) with the right tool (an iPhone or an iPad) can unlock Polaxis's hidden journal and hear and see what is really going on....or it least what Polaxis believes is really going on. It is possible that he is completely mad.

All you'll need to do is buy the comic book and download the 'Polaxis' app (for FREE) from the iTunes App Store. Then, you point your camera at the comic and the pages will come to life. The app will work with both the printed comic book and the pdf.

Polaxis believes the world we live in is a projection from another plane in the universe. This projection is known as Intafrag and is patrolled by Intafrag agents. The agents monitor glitches and pursue time travelling fugitives. Polaxis believes he is one of these fugitives. He can't quite prove any of this because he was pretty wasted the last time he time travelled but either way he is certain the Intafrag agents are after him. The story follows Polaxis from a boring office job in Brisbane (Australia) to a house party in Montreal to the Amazon jungles of Peru. He travels the globe evading the Intafrag agents. He must hurry, for IF the fabric of our reality is merely a flickering light, what happens when someone flicks the switch off?

The story will incorporate real audio, footage, and photography and the story itself is based on true events. In that sense, reality is truly augmented as fact and fiction are blurred.

For friends and fans in Australia, there is a documentary on me and my art practice tonight (Tuesday July 8 @ 10pm). The creative process of Modern Polaxis will be a feature of the documentary. Check it out here: http://www.abc.net.au/arts/stories/s4033964.htm

Modern Polaxis at the Fantoche International Animation FestivalI will be exhibiting Modern Polaxis at Fantoche in Switzerland this September. I will also be performing a live Modern Polaxis AR projection performance.

More Info

Modern Polaxis will include over 40 pages of audiovisual content. Sutu will be collaborating with musician and sound designer Lhasa Mencur to create original soundscapes for every page. Lhasa has a fine reputation for creating immersive sound experiences for video games, as well as being an accomplished electronica musician.NEW REWARDS! $55 for both books or $65 for both books signed

BONUS COMIC REWARD

A kickstarter special only. You can get a pre-release of Sutu's latest comic (only available here ). There is a limited quantity. For current backers it is possible to up your pledge to include the new comic. For more info and a preview of Krysalis visit: http://www.sutueatsflies.com/krysalis/

A page from Krysalis

Another page from Krysalis

AR POSTER

Polaxis AR Poster #1

$2000 Shipping (based upon an estimated 60/40 split between US and International orders)

$3000 Printing costs

$2500 App development - includes app optimisation for iPhone and iPad, UI design

$1000 Sound design

$500 Kickstarter fees

The Technology

Our Augmented Reality Technology is built on the backbone of our own BOOMCORE technology. Sutu and Lukasz have collaborated over the last 4 years to develop BOOMCORE, a software used for the creation of animation and interactive digital content. BOOMCORE has been used to produce over 20 episodes of content across 4 story franchises including Sutu's own Nawlz and Neomad.

Your investment in Polaxis is also an investment in the ongoing development of the BOOMCORE framework and the release of more exciting and innovating story experiences in the future. The potential for this technology is not limited to comic books and could easily apply to many forms of media including magazines, stickers, t-shirts, posters as well as screen content.

Stretch Goals

$10,000 Additional layer of AR to 5 pages

$11,000 New AR activated poster

$13,000 5 additional pages of artwork

More Art from Polaxis...

Polaxis AR sample gif

Polaxis learns of Light Breakers

Feliz - the dealer

The Flux bug, a time travelling catalyst or a nasty trip?

Detail from comic - Polaxis evades the Intafrag agents

Original art will be varying sizes with a minimum size of 19cm X 24cm

Sample of original Art

Risks and challenges

The project is in a good place. I have written the story and have already completed about 20 pages of illustrations and animations. I still need to create 20 more pages of illustrations, complete with animations and sound design in order to finish the Augmented Reality comic book. As you can see from the video we've made great headway on the programming for the Augmented Reality technology. Now, we need to optimise that technology so that the app can manage 40 pages of animation and run smoothly on both the iPhone and iPad.

To resolve these challenges I am working with the genius AR programmer Lukasz Karluk. Lukasz and I have worked together over the last 4 years to develop BOOMCORE, a framework for delivering interactive stories including NAWLZ and NEOMAD. The most recent update of the BOOMCORE framework has been the addition of the Augmented Reality capability. This means I can continue to create my animations the way I have for my last projects only now, they will work in the new dimension of Augmented Reality.

FAQ

We have looked in to it but unfortunately an Android version is beyond the capacity of our team and by team I mean myself and Lukasz. Lukasz is the programmer for the project and he specialises in iOS and OSX.

I'm Sutu. I'm an International award winning illustrator and interactive designer from Australia. I have over 10 years experience in creating innovating and rich multimedia experiences. I'm best known for being a pioneer of interactive comics, and as the creator of NAWLZ, an online interactive sci-fi comic series and NEOMAD, an interactive comic book/space opera set in the Australian outback. I have also adapted traditional Australian Aboriginal stories into interactive comics as part of his work with Big hART (a social arts and justice organisation), created multimedia installations for Australia's National Museum and pilot training programs for Australia's Defence Force. My work has been exhibited in Australia and internationally and I have been a keynote speaker at numerous international design events and comic festivals.

Rewards

Pledge $1 or more

Pledge $5 or more

3 backers

I’M INTERESTED - Receive project updates. You will also be thanked in the website credits.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

You selected

Pledge $20 or more

8 backers

REALLY INTERESTED - Digital PDF version to print yourself (will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store. It will even work when the PDF is displayed on your screen).

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

You selected

Pledge $30 or more

20 backers
All gone!

EARLY BIRD - Printed Book 15.5 X 19.5 cm spiral bound Polaxis notebook (will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store). Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $35 or more

19 backers

PRINTED BOOK - 15.5 X 19.5 cm Wire-O bound Polaxis notebook (will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store). Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $35 or more

3 backers
All gone!

**WE MADE IT! SPECIAL** - Get a SIGNED copy of the Polaxis Printed Book and then get a FREE SIGNED copy of the Krysalis Printed book. (shipping included). (The Polaxis book will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store)

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $40 or more

5 backers
All gone!

Day 7 SUPER DEAL - Get the Polaxis Printed Book and then get a FREE copy of the Krysalis Printed book. (shipping included). (The Polaxis book will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store)

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $45 or more

4 backers

PRINTED BOOK & PDF COMBO - 15.5 X 19.5 cm Wire-O Polaxis notebook (will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store). AND PDF version (that will also function with the app) Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $45 or more

17 backers
Limited (83 left of 100)

SIGNED PRINTED BOOK - Signed and numbered book (the book will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store). Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $55 or more

2 backers
Limited (98 left of 100)

SIGNED PRINTED BOOK & PDF - Signed and numbered book (the book will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store). Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $55 or more

15 backers
Limited (35 left of 50)

*SPECIAL BOOK COMBO - Get a copy of both the Polaxis Printed Book and The Krysalis Printed book. (shipping included). FYI For current backers, it is possible to up your pledge to include the new comic.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $65 or more

9 backers
Limited (41 left of 50)

*SUPER SPECIAL BOOK COMBO - Get SIGNED copies of both the Polaxis Printed Book and The Krysalis Printed book. (shipping included). FYI For current backers, it is possible to up your pledge to include the new comic.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $80 or more

5 backers
Limited (35 left of 40)

SIGNED AND ILLUSTRATED BOOK - Signed with a small illustration on the inside back cover (the book will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store). Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $80 or more

0 backers
Limited (40 left of 40)

SIGNED AR POSTER - Will activate with the app. Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $110 or more

4 backers
Limited (36 left of 40)

SIGNED AR POSTER & SIGNED BOOK - The book and poster will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store. Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $160 or more

2 backers
Limited (8 left of 10)

SIGNED BOOK & ORIGINAL ART- Receive an original piece of art from the comic and a signed copy of the book. Art will be of varying sizes (minimum size 19cm X 25cm). The book will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store. Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $170 or more

3 backers
All gone!

*POWER PACK - Get an ORIGINAL piece of art and SIGNED copies of both the Polaxis Printed Book and The Krysalis Printed book. (shipping included). FYI For current backers, it is possible to up your pledge. The Polaxis book will function with the free version of the app available through the iTunes App Store

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $240 or more

8 backers
Limited (2 left of 10)

SUPER COLLECTOR - Receive a signed book, AR poster and original piece of art from the comic. Original art will be of varying sizes (mimimum size 19cm X 25cm). The book and poster will function with the free version of the application available through the iTunes App Store Includes postage worldwide.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $2,000 or more

2 backers
Limited (1 left of 3)

CORPORATE SPONSOR - Be our official corporate sponsor for the project. You will receive maximum visibility throughout all communications in the app and printed book, and exposure at the 2014 Fantoche Animation Festival in September in Switzerland where Sutu is a guest exhibiter and keynote speaker.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2014

Funding period

Jul 7, 2014 - Aug 6, 2014
(30 days)

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